The aim of this study was to analyze and compare foot health and general health
in a sample of women divided into two groups: 1) those with breast cancer and undergoing
chemotherapy treatment and 2) healthy women without breast cancer and with normalized
reference values.
Methods: A case–control observational study was performed. Two-hundred women with a
mean age of 51.00±8.75 years were recruited from podiatric medicine and surgery clinics from
the University of Extremadura (Plasencia, Spain) and the Hospital Infanta Cristina (Badajoz,
Spain). The women were divided into case and control groups (undergoing chemotherapy
treatment and healthy women, respectively). The Foot Health Status Questionnaire was used to
assess foot health domain scores.
Results: Significant differences between both groups were seen for foot pain (P=0.003), foot
function (P<0.001), physical activity (P<0.001), social capacity (P<0.001), and vigor (P=0.001).
The remaining domains (footwear, general health, and foot health) did not show significant
differences between the two groups (P≥0.01).
Conclusion: Women with breast cancer presented a lower foot health-related quality of life.
Clinical aspects with emphasis on foot pain and disability were increased. Furthermore, physical
activity, social capacity, and vigor were affected. Therefore, general health care and foot problem
prevention for breast cancer survivors should be given more consideration.